I was about to speak when I heard Zhuo Shang decisively order, "Don't make a move! This is His Highness the Young Prince! Protect him!"
The guards were very well-trained; in the blink of an eye, they sheathed their swords and quickly made way for Dafeng to go out.
I originally wanted to tell Zhuoshang that strong winds usually don't travel by land, but by air, so there was no need to go through so much trouble.
But Dafeng was not a calm beast. He was so frightened by the guards' gleaming swords that he lost his footing and obviously couldn't remember how to fly. He just howled twice and moved step by step toward the door, looking back at me pitifully.
Zhuo Shang said, "Your Highness, where is the young prince going? I can send someone to escort him."
I closed my eyes and said in despair, "He probably... returned to nature..."
Zhuo Shang led me to the main hall, where the walls were covered with dragon-patterned panels.
Beside the door stood an octagonal silk screen, its four corners carved, embroidered with fierce tigers and auspicious beasts. Outside the screen was a gilded mahogany wooden table, piled with scriptures and memorials. At the corner of the table were a pair of antique bronze candlesticks, each holding two carved gold candles. To the right was a crouching lion incense burner, its fragrance lingering.
There seemed to be someone behind the screen, revealing a corner of a purple robe embroidered with a magnificent and intricate nine-winged phoenix tail.
Zhuo Shang solemnly replied, "My lord, His Highness has been brought here."
"You may leave."
A pair of dark boots with a dragon emerging from the sea pattern came into my view. The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his face cold and handsome, and I could vaguely see weariness between his eyebrows and eyes.
He looked me up and down, paused for a moment, and then said thoughtfully, "You resemble Lianji more than she does."
I asked, "Whom does it resemble more?"
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, walked to the table, and took a scroll from the wall. "It looks more like your mother, Yue Ji."
He unfurled the scroll, revealing a noblely dressed young woman wearing a yellow silk crown, with a dignified bearing, who, upon closer inspection, bore a resemblance to me.
I paused, pondered for a moment, and said to the Emperor, "So, you're my father?"
He paused in his painting, turned to look at me, and said, "No, Tsukihime is my... sister."
I think that whether it's your biological father or maternal uncle, as long as you can establish a family connection, everything will be fine.
I said, "Your Majesty, could you please do me a favor and tell me how to cure wolfsbane?"
He looked at the figure in the painting with a calm expression. "No."
I said, "Could you please do this for my mother's sake...?"
He suddenly flicked his sleeve, and the golden candle on the table fell to the ground with a thud. He said coldly, "If you want to know the antidote for this poison, you must grant me one request."
I asked, "What are the conditions?"
The Emperor said calmly, "I bestow upon you the throne. After the spring sacrifice, you shall be granted the rites of a princess."
I jumped up and down, biting my tongue, and said, "Your Majesty is joking. I have no talent for governing a country at all. I don't recognize a single character in the Eastern Lands. Well, actually, I don't recognize many characters in the Central Plains either."
The Emperor raised his eyelids and said indifferently, "You are of royal blood and should serve the people of Xue. I originally thought you died of poisoning when you were young, which caused you to wander in another country for many years. So be it. If the two countries go to war again in the future, you can bring the country under my control."
I was almost in tears. "Your Majesty flatters me. I truly lack both literary and martial talents, let alone lofty ambitions. If we're talking about royal blood, my sister Qi Xiao—I'm referring to Princess Qi Xiao—is surely more capable."
The Emperor scoffed coldly, "Ha, Consort Lian?" His eyes narrowed, and he said in a deep voice, "The cure for wolf poison can only be known by the successor to the throne. You should think this through. Is being the princess of my Great Xue Kingdom a disservice to you?"
After speaking, he flicked his sleeve and ordered, "Zhuo Shang, take her downstairs to change and bathe."
I was placed in the Suyun Pavilion in the side hall. Outside the window, the fine snow gradually mixed with spring rain and fell down in a drizzling sound.
I glanced at Zhuo Shang and asked, "Does your emperor and princess not get along very well?"
Zhuo Shang replied, "Your Highness, the Lord has instructed me to help you change and bathe before we go to the main hall to have dinner together with the Lord."
I nudged him. "Is your lord suffering from a chronic illness?"
Zhuo Shang was somewhat surprised. "How did Your Highness know? My lord has indeed been unwell recently."
I nodded and said, "He seems incredibly arrogant, like he's going through menopause."
Zhuo Shang said, "..."
As the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) struck, under Zhuo Shang's sharp gaze, I adjusted my clothes and walked towards the main hall.
Upon reaching the gate, two rows of maids stood outside the hall.
Zhuo Shang stopped in his tracks and said in a low voice, "Her Highness the Princess has returned."
I said, "Princess Rei?"
Zhuo Shang nodded.
I thought for a moment and said, "Then let's find a place to eavesdrop."
Zhuo Shang remained silent for a moment, then said again, "There is a distinction of rank between me and Your Highness, and I am afraid I am not capable of fulfilling this duty."
I comforted him, saying, "I didn't ask you to eavesdrop. It's raining right now, and I wanted you to hold an umbrella for me."
Zhuo Shang remained silent.
In the dim twilight, the palace lanterns flickered.
Lianji wore a rose-purple floral dress, and her jet-black hair was styled into a slanted bun, adorned with a silk peony.
She wasn't wearing a veil, and even in the dim candlelight, I could still clearly see that it was Qi Xiao.
Lianji held a silver carved wine cup between her fingertips and smiled at the Emperor, "Lianji has heard that Your Majesty has found my sister and brought her back. Congratulations!"